Mini roller cleaner

ABSTRACT

Mini Roller Cleaner is a handle and rod dimensioned to hold standard paint roller covers or mini roller covers. To use the preferred embodiment of Mini Roller Cleaner, a user places a mini paint roller cover or other roller cover on the rod after use and then places the device with the roller cover into a regular size roller spinner for cleaning.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. Non-Provisional patent application does not claim priority to any U.S. Provisional Patent Application or any foreign patent application.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosures made herein relate generally to the home improvement and construction industries. The invention discussed herein is in the general classification of paint roller cover cleaners.

BACKGROUND

Billions of dollars are spent every year on the new construction and home improvement industries. Painters, carpenters, carpet layers, roofers, electricians and plumbers are a major part of the construction and home improvement industries. These craftsmen and tradesmen use a variety of tools in completing their labors. Some of the tools are specific to a particular skill or trade. Plumbers, for example, make use of pipe wrenches while electricians use wire connectors.

Other tools are common to most skilled craftsmen and laymen alike. Tools such as screwdrivers are examples of this class of tool. The hammer in one or more of its forms is also employed on most job sites. Paint brushes and paint rollers are also commonly used by many craftsmen and laymen on home improvement and construction projects.

The United States is experiencing a boom in new construction and home improvement projects. Most new construction and many home improvement projects will require some painting on the interior or exterior portion of a home or other structure.

Painters utilize all types of brushes, rollers, tarps, paint trays and buckets to accomplish their work. Expensive brushes and rollers often are used to create a professional finish. For cost effectiveness, painters need to be able to clean these brushes and rollers to use on multiple occasions. Most painters must clean brushes and rollers by hand in buckets or sinks. Cleaning a brush or roller by hand is a time consuming, tedious and messy project. The paint removed from the brushes is often not environmentally friendly and should not be discarded down a sink or other drain. However, this is often exactly what occurs because of the difficulty in cleaning such devices in other manners. If the rollers cannot be cleaned after each use, they must be discarded, causing a painter to incur needless expense to purchase additional rollers for each project.

Some painters place their paintbrushes inside a device called a spinner to clean them more efficiently. Paint roller covers, however, often do not have the proper dimensions to utilize this device.

Hence, there is a need in the art for a convenient to use, inexpensive, durable, environmentally friendly, safe and effective device for cleaning paint roller covers and mini paint roller covers for use with a spinner.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Mini Roller Cleaner is a handle and rod dimensioned to hold standard paint roller covers or mini paint roller covers.

One embodiment of the invention utilizes a wood handle with a steel rod.

Other embodiments of the invention come in smaller sizes and may include a hanger hole through the handle.

Still other embodiments utilize a plastic handle or other metals or materials for the rod.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a device for use with a spinner that is capable of cleaning paint roller covers and mini paint roller covers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device that is capable of efficiently cleaning a paint roller cover or mini paint roller cover.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device that is capable of reducing the mess associated with cleaning a paint roller cover or mini paint roller cover.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable device for cleaning paint roller covers and mini paint roller covers.

Another object of this invention is to provide an affordable device for cleaning paint roller covers and mini paint roller covers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a safe device for cleaning paint roller covers and mini paint roller covers.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a durable device for cleaning paint roller covers and mini paint roller covers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention cut along the line A-A of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of is comprised of at least some of the following: a handle with a hanger hole on one end and a rod emanating from the opposite end.

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention. A handle 1 is approximately cylindrical and made of wood in this preferred embodiment though other shapes and materials may also be utilized. The handle 1 has a diameter of approximately two inches and a length of approximately five inches. The handle 1 has a hanger hole 2 permeating through it at one end. The hanger hole 2 is circular and approximately three-quarters of an inch in diameter in this preferred embodiment though other shapes and sizes are also appropriate.

A rod 3 emanates from the end of the handle 1 opposite the hanger hole 2. The rod 3 is approximately cylindrical with a three-quarter of an inch diameter and a length of approximately six inches. The rod 3 is inserted approximately one inch into the end of the handle 1 and has a rounded end for safety purposes in this preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention cut along the Line A-A of FIG. 1. The handle 1, hanger hole 2 and rod 3 are all visible. The relative thickness and dimensions of the handle 1, hanger hole 2 and rod 3 are also shown more clearly from this cross-sectional view.

Other embodiments of the invention come in smaller sizes and may not include the hanger hole in the handle. In addition, other materials such as plastic may be used for the handle and other metals or materials may be used for the rod.

To use the preferred embodiment of Mini Roller Cleaner, a user paints a home or other structure in the traditional manner, using a mini paint roller. Once the painting project is complete, he removes the mini paint roller cover from the mini roller and places it on the rod and places the entire device with the roller cover attached into a regular sized roller spinner.

The materials utilized for Mini Roller Cleaner may vary widely but will likely include metals, plastic and wood. The metals would ideally be selected from available steel or alloys of steel and aluminum. The production process related to the use of these metals insures that the metal is non-corrosive, durable and strong. The selected metal or wood should have high impact strength and be capable of accepting and retaining coloring materials for an extended length of time.

The plastic used in the production will ideally be selected for durability and longevity. Thermoplastics are commonly used in the manufacturing of components similar to those used in this invention. Polyethylene, polypropylene, and other similar thermoplastic materials would be among those with the necessary traits. Members of this family are recognized universally as being versatile and of high quality.

The plastic components of Mini Roller Cleaner can also be formed with the use of plastic molding techniques, such as injection molding or blow molding. Injection molding requires melted plastic to be forcefully injected into relatively cool molds. As the plastic begins to harden, it takes on the shape of the mold cavity. This technique is ideal for the mass production of products. Alternatively, blow molding, a form of extrusion, could be utilized. Blow molding involves a molten tube being pushed into a mold. Compressed air then forces the molten tube against the cold walls of the mold.

It should be obvious that the components of the present invention can be of various shapes and sizes. It should also be obvious that the components of the invention can be made of different types of plastics or other suitable materials and can be of any color.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It should therefore be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims. 

1. A paint roller cover cleaning device comprising: (a) a handle; and (b) a rod connected to one end of the handle.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the handle is approximately cylindrical.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the handle is made of wood.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the handle is made of plastic.
 5. The device of claim 2 wherein the handle has a diameter of approximately two inches and a length of approximately five inches.
 6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a hanger hole on the end of the handle opposite the end connected to the rod.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein the hanger hole is approximately three-quarters of an inch in diameter.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein the rod is made of metal.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein the metal is steel.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein the rod is approximately cylindrical and approximately three-quarters of an inch in diameter and six inches in length.
 11. The device of claim 1 wherein the rod emanates from the interior of the handle.
 12. The device of claim 1 wherein the rod has a rounded end opposite the end connected to the handle.
 13. A paint roller cover cleaning device comprising: (a) a handle that is cylindrical and made of wood having a diameter of approximately two inches and a length of approximately five inches; (b) a rod made of steel emanating from the interior of one end of the handle; and (c) a hanger hole that is approximately three-quarters of an inch in diameter on the end of the handle opposite the end connected to the rod; and (d) a rounded end on the end of the rod opposite the end connected to the handle. 